Six
836 Words
Chapter 6 — The Boy She Forgot
Victoria’s POV
The next morning, Victoria woke with one name already occupying her mind.
Lorenzo.
She hated that.
She hated even more that the memories from childhood had returned with him.
For years, she had convinced herself that the little girl beneath the tree had never existed. That the laughter, the cookies, the boy with warm brown eyes and an Italian accent were nothing more than fragments of a childhood she barely remembered.
Now they were everywhere.
His smile.
His voice.
Hamster.
Victoria sat on the edge of her bed and rubbed her temples.
“Get yourself together,” she whispered.
She was Victoria Hayes.
CEO.
Ice Queen.
A woman who could walk into a boardroom full of powerful men and make them reconsider every decision they had made.
She wasn't supposed to be shaken by one man.
Especially not a man she had known when she was eight.
Her phone vibrated.
Jamal: Tell me you didn't spend the entire night thinking about Mr. Italian Billionaire.
Victoria stared at the message.
Then another appeared.
Jamal: Because if you did, I'm celebrating.
She rolled her eyes.
Victoria: I have work.
His reply came almost immediately.
Jamal: That's not an answer.
Victoria smiled despite herself.
Before she could respond, her phone rang.
Her assistant.
“Ms. Hayes, there's someone here asking to see you.”
“Who?”
“He wouldn't give me his name.”
Victoria's smile disappeared.
“Then he doesn't see me.”
There was a pause.
“He said you'll change your mind when I tell you he mentioned the word Hamster.”
Victoria froze.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
“Where is he?”
“In the lobby.”
“Keep him there.”
She ended the call.
For several seconds, she simply stared at the phone.
Only two people knew that name.
Jamal.
And Lorenzo.
But Lorenzo wasn't supposed to be at her company.
She quickly changed into a fitted charcoal suit and headed downstairs.
The elevator doors opened onto the lobby.
Victoria stepped out.
Her heels clicked against the marble floor as she searched the room.
Then she saw him.
Not Lorenzo.
A stranger.
Tall.
Dark-haired.
Wearing a navy suit that looked expensive but deliberately ordinary.
He stood beside the entrance, his hands in his pockets.
When his eyes met hers, something about his expression made her uneasy.
He smiled.
“Victoria Hayes.”
She stopped several feet away.
“Who are you?”
The man's smile widened.
“Someone who remembers your childhood.”
Victoria's stomach tightened.
“What do you want?”
He glanced around the crowded lobby.
“Not here.”
“You came to my company uninvited. You don't get to choose where we speak.”
His expression changed.
For the first time, the amusement disappeared from his eyes.
“Then I'll make this simple.”
He stepped closer.
“You should stay away from Lorenzo Valentieri.”
Victoria's pulse quickened.
“And why would I do that?”
“Because the last time someone got too close to him, people died.”
Silence.
Victoria stared at him.
Before she could respond, the lobby doors opened.
Lorenzo walked inside.
His eyes immediately found Victoria.
Then they moved to the stranger.
Something dark flashed across his face.
“Victoria,” Lorenzo said quietly.
The stranger turned.
For a brief moment, the two men stared at each other.
Recognition.
Fear.
Hatred.
Victoria saw all three.
Lorenzo walked toward them.
“Daniel.”
The stranger smiled.
“It's been a long time, Valentieri.”
Victoria looked between them.
“You know each other?”
Lorenzo stopped beside her.
“Yes.”
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
Daniel laughed softly.
“You should tell her everything.”
Lorenzo's jaw tightened.
“Leave.”
Daniel looked at Victoria one last time.
Then he leaned slightly toward her.
“Ask him what happened the summer he left America.”
Victoria's breath caught.
Daniel walked away.
Lorenzo didn't stop him.
He simply watched until the man disappeared through the doors.
Then he turned to Victoria.
“Are you all right?”
She looked at him.
For the first time since seeing him again, the warmth in her chest was replaced by suspicion.
“You have five minutes.”
His brows drew together.
“For what?”
“To tell me the truth.”
She stepped closer.
“Who is Daniel Cross?”
Lorenzo's expression hardened.
“And what happened that summer?”
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he reached for her hand.
Victoria almost pulled away.
But his fingers closed gently around hers.
“Cricetina mia…”
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“There are things about that summer you don't remember.”
Victoria's heart sank.
“What things?”
Lorenzo looked directly into her eyes.
“The reason I disappeared.”
And the reason someone is trying to make sure we never find out.
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